Chairperson of the European University of Lefke (EUL) Department of Special Education Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Ataman made statements about 3rd of December International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Pointing out that, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is accepted as 3^rd of December by United Nations since 1992, Ataman stated that on this day, organizations around the world which are usually free and voluntary are organized.

Ataman: Understanding Persons with Disabilities is very important.

Ataman pointed out that International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a day designated with the purpose of drawing attention to the problems of people with disabilities throughout the world and understanding them better. Ataman stressed the importance of understanding people who are affected by inadequacies or who are developing differently and said that, “The problems they face in daily life are not just their problems, but of all of us”.

Pointing out that important steps are being taken with regard to the prevention of disabilities in recent years, Ataman stated that every newborn baby is being controlled with newborn hearing tests, phenylketonuria, biotidinase and hypothyroidism tests, early detection and treatment of developmental hip dislocation, and hemoglobinopathies tests. Ataman stated that according to the sources of the Ministry of Health, preparations were made for the dissemination of early age controls and thus the injuries that can occur due to congenital causes can be prevented.  Ataman emphasized the importance of cooperation of many sectors such as health sector and education sector in preventing the disability, providing the necessary treatment and rehabilitation services for the disabled, increasing the awareness of the individuals about the disability and the consciousness of the rights of the persons with disabilities.

Ataman stated that with the Disability Law, enacted in 2005 important steps has been taken in relation with the persons with disabilities, including the education services, care services and the prevention of discrimination of employment and added that with Constitutional amendment made in 2010, the reform process was carried on to the higher stages in Turkey.

Stressing that remembering persons with disabilities on a single day is not a positive approach, Ataman said that, “We are all passengers of the same ship. We are no different from each other. In order to be a society, we have to understand the each other”.